Three days before the host cities for next year’s debut Quiznos Pro Challenge are announced, the identities of three unsuccessful bidders have been revealed. Popular cycling city Durango has lost out, as has Loveland and Telluride. Each will have to wait until 2012 at the earliest.

“I think what they, in the end decided to do is go for the most easy stages from a logistical standpoint,” said Scott McQuade of the Telluride Tourism Board.

Speaking to the Telluride Daily Planet newspaper, he suggested that the organisers want to keep things nearer to the Front Range population centres for year one. Longer-term, though, he believes it will extend wider. “It is their intention to make the race more spread throughout the state,” he said.

Mayor Stu Fraser was also disappointed, but accepted that Tour of California organisers Medalist had a lot to do to get things ready for year one. “I think they wanted to make sure they had something that was relatively easy to deal with,” he stated. “They don’t have that much time to get the entire organization into place between now and next August.

“I believe we know that we have people on our side at Medalist Sports,” he continued. “I was disappointed, but I really believe we learned a lot from it. Durango was probably far more disappointed than us.”

Durango is believed to have put in a lot more time and money. Despite its rich cycling heritage and the fact that it has hosted a mountainbike world championships, it too will have to wait. So too Loveland, which was also lobbying for a place in the event. According to Reporterherald.com, it has been encouraged to try again next year.

The race will take place from Auigst 22 – 28 next year. Many of America’s top riders are expected to take part, including Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack). He has been involved in lobbying for the race to take place.

Other towns who have been pushing for stage starts or finishes are Aspen, Steamboat and Crested Butte. The race is regarded as a long-overdue successor to the Coors Classic, which ran for ten years until 1988 and saw major stars such as Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault and Andy Hampsten take part.